Get ready for another inspiring update about Sandy, YHD’s hearing dog in training! This loving, dedicated pup is working hard every day, training relentlessly to become Kathy’s ears. Let’s see what he’s been up to recently!
Over the last couple of months, Sandy has been building on previous skills and tackling new tasks on his journey to becoming a hearing dog. A huge step in his training was practicing his skills in public settings, where temptations are everywhere. Visiting busy places with lots of people, other pets, and new smells is incredibly exciting for a dog and requires immense concentration to stay on task. As expected, Sandy absolutely shined in these challenging situations. He stayed close to Kathy, made turns when needed, and even ignored all the tempting bones and toys. Not only did he remain focused on his training, he did all of this without even having his leash held! This is an incredible stride in his training and truly highlights his dedication to helping his special person and learning to be her ears.
During another recent trip to a store, this time with fluffy chicks under a heat lamp and lots of young children, Sandy still stayed focused on his training. Similar to his last outing, he heeled, or followed Kathy closely, while off his leash, turning corners on his own without guidance. While he was certainly very interested in the situation—and it would have been fun to chase a chick or two—he remained calm and followed directions. Such a good boy!
While spending time in public places is crucial for training, getting Sandy into the car has proven to be a bit of a challenge. He’s often very reluctant to trust a vehicle, and even treats won’t persuade him to jump in. This usually means he has to be picked up and placed in the car, which, at over 60 pounds, is no easy feat! Thankfully, the recent addition of a car hammock has brought some peace and security to Sandy while riding. He no longer has to worry about falling on the car floor during turns, and his car sickness has even diminished. While vehicles are still his arch-nemesis, it’s all part of the training process, and he and Kathy will continue working together to ease his fears.
Visiting new places and riding in cars is a mix of emotions and definitely a big piece of Sandy’s training journey. However, he’s also learning many other vital skills, all aimed at becoming Kathy’s hearing dog. New people visiting the house are always thrilling, and Sandy loves meeting and playing with them. While visits are exciting, he’s learning to settle when guests arrive and is working on remaining in his kennel when the door is open. Another important skill Sandy is mastering is coming to get Kathy when her husband calls her name. This is a crucial step in helping Kathy by alerting her when needed. Squirrels are another matter, but, really, who can resist chasing one? Still, as he learns to settle and remain in training mode while he’s out, this will eventually come together.
Sandy is growing in so many ways each day, gaining and building on his skill set while staying healthy. A recent visit to the vet showed he’s doing very well, even though he had some mixed feelings about the experience. While there were initially lots of pets and love, some shots given later made Sandy question their kindness. To make matters worse, he also had to go into a back room where, obviously, nothing good happens, and, as anticipated, received more shots. Luckily, this ordeal was over quickly, and it was followed by many well-deserved pets. As with many anxiety-inducing situations, Sandy was left feeling very tired, but hopefully his dreams were filled with a special treat—chasing squirrels!
Training is hard, and sometimes you need a little release. This might come out in different ways, such as tasting a little bit of unattended lasagna, or perhaps getting a little too wild with a stuffed friend. Sandy decided he wanted to bring his dragon toy, “Pinkie,” out on a walk. Sometimes when friends are around, things can get a little crazy. Once outside, the zoomies set in, and it was too much fun for Sandy to stop. He pulled the leash from Kathy’s hands, twice, speeding around the yard. Luckily, Sandy stayed in the yard rather than running down the street. The zoomies were too much even for his toy, and when he set his friend down, Kathy made a quick decision to pick it up. She carried it into the house, while Sandy reluctantly followed behind her. Needless to say, Pinkie will not be leaving the house again!
It has been an amazing journey so far watching Sandy grow and learn in his training. He is certainly a wonderful gift for Kathy with his dedication, companionship, and the security he will eventually provide.
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- Tags: Hearing Dog, service dog, Training and Skills, Your Hearing Dog
